Return trap



June 8 1926.

' F. E IGE RETURN TRAPV Filed June 25. 1923 1 b, Sheets-Sheet 1 F. ElGE'June 8 1926.

RETURN TRAP Filed June 25, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 Patented June 8, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

namen nien, or Tononro, CANADA, Assreivon To c. A. DUNHAM COMPANY, orMansHALLTowN, Iowa, A Conronar'o'ivfor IOWA.

RETURN TRAP.

Application :filed June 25, 1923. Serial No. 647,659.

My invention relates to return traps of the class adapted for carrying`water into a receptacle containing` steam or other fluid under pressure,and it is particularly designed for returning the water of condensationfrom the radiators to the boiler of a heating` system.

lt is the principal object `of my invention to provide a new andimproved form and arrangement of parts, comprising a plurality ofweighted levers adapted to cooperate to give a sharp sudden blow of somelittle power upon the valves by which the entrance and escape of steamand air are controlled for regulating the operation of the device,'whereby the mechanism may preferably bc` capable of opening` the mainsteam valve against the pressure of the steam without the necessity forproviding a preliminary valve or other similar Vconstruction inmlvingybalanced or partially balanced steam pressure.

lt is one of the speciic objects of my invention to provide anarrangement oi this general type in which one weighted lever in itsmovement by gravity under the control ot a iloat picks up a secondweighted lever and carries it into position to move by gravity, thearrangement being such that the two levers are permitted to have alimited swing in unison tree of the valves and are brought intooperative relation with the valves at the end of such Jree swingingmovement.

lt is another object of my invention to improve devices oi this generaltype in sundry details hereinafter pointed out. The preferred means bywhich I have accomplished my several objects are illustrated in `theaccompanying drawings and are hereinafter specifically described.

That which l believe to be new and desire to cover by Letters Patent isset forth in the claims.

In the drawings- Fig. 1 is a side view or' my improved trap.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section taken substantially at line 2-2 ofFig. 1, but with the weighted levers swung to their vertical positionfor better showing the construction.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view, being a section taken at line 3--3 ofFig. 2, with the parts in their intermediate position.

Fig. e is a longitudinal sectional view,

being taken substantially on line lf-t of 2, but showing the parts inthe position corresponding to that of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view, being substantially a section takenon line 5-5 of Fig. 2, but showing the steam valve open and the airvalve closed.

Fig. G is a fragmentary view simi-lar to Fig. e, but showing the primaryweighted lever in its uppermost position ready for a downward movementby gravity. v

Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 6, but showing the primary weightedlever in position ready to take up and carry with it the secondaryweighted lever.

F 8 is a view similar to Fig 7, but showing` the secondary weightedlever in position to begin its downward stroke by gravity in unison withthe primary weighted lever; and f Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8,but showing the weighted levers again in operative engagement with theioat arm in the position in which such levers are held by the valve atthe end of their operative stroke after the opening of thesteam valve.

Feferring now to the several gures of the drawings, in whichcorresponding parts are indicated by the same reference characters,indicates a closed casing ot' any suitable type. being preferably in theform of a casting, with an inspection plate 16 secured thereon atoneend. A pipe 17, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, is connectedat its lower end with the casing 15, for conducting to the casing thewater of condensation from the radiators of a heating system. As will bereadily understood the casing is lo cated preferably at a point abovethe level of the water in the boiler of the heating system, thearrangement being such that when a connection. is effected between thecasing and the boiler with the steam pressure equalized above and belowthe body of water in the casing, such water will run by gravity from thecasing into the boiler. In the construction shown the casing 15 isconnected with the boiler (not shown) by means of a pipe 18, which isshown equipped with a check valve 19. At one side the casing 15 isprovided with an auxiliary housing 2O secured thereon over an' opening21 by means of machine screws. As is best shown in Fig. 5, the housingis provided with a socket 22 at one side, into which is tapped a steampipe 23 leading from the boiler. At the opposite side the housing 2O isprovided with a socket 24 into which is tapped an air pipe 25.

Coming now to the system of weighted levers for operating the valves ashereinafter described, 26 indicates a stud shaft having driving fit in aboss 27 carried by the wall of the casing 15 at the side opposite tothat at which the housing 20 is located. Between the inner end of thestud 26 and a boss 28 formed on the outer wall of the housing 20, I haveprovided a shaft 29 which has revolubly mounted upon one end portionthereof a collar 30 which is provided with a notch 31 in its inner endfor receivinga pin 32 extending radially from the shaft 29, as is bestshown in Fig. 3. As will be readily understood, by the provision of thepin and slot the collar 30 is free to have a limited rotary movementwith respect to the shaft 29. As is best shown in Fig. 5, the collar 30is provided with a transverse groove 33 at one side for the reception ofthe shanks 34 and 35 of valves 36 and 37 adapted to seat respectively inthe air nozzle and the steam nozzle of the housing 20 above described.The ends of the Shanks 34 and 35 are pivotally connected with the collar30 by means of a pin 38, the arrangement being such that the collar 30serves as a crank for the operation of the valves 36 and 37. As will bereadily understood, the rotation of the collar 30 in clockwise directionin Fig. 5 is limited by the seating of the valve 36 and the rotation ofthe collar 30 in counterclockwise direct-ion in said figure is limitedby the seating of the valve 37. It is thus seen that the collar 30 has avery limited rotation, and it will be understood that the rotation ofthe shaft 29 is only slightly greater, being limited by the amount ofrotation of the collar 30 plus that permitted by the small amount ofplay between the pin 32 and the notch 31.

For operating the shaft 29 for opening and closing the valves 36 and 37,I have provided a lever 39 .ixedly mounted upon the shaft 29, so as torock therewith, this lever comprising in the construction shown two armsconnected together by a web 40. Between the upper ends of the arms ofthe lever 39 I have pivotally mounted aweight 41 by mea-ns of pins 42,the arrangement being such that the weight is free to swing between thearms of the lever. The lever 39 is shown at the limit of its swingingmotion towards the right in Fig. 4, being held in that position by theengagement of the valve 36 with its seat. The arrangement is such thatwhen the lever 39 has swung an equal distance toward the left in Fig. 4beyond the vertical' position, the lever will be at the limit of itsmotion toward the left in such ligure, being held in such position bythe engagement of the valve 37 with its seat. Limiting pins 39iL arealso provided.

Upon the stud 26, a short distance from the lever 39, I have revolublymounted .'11 lever 43, this lever also comprising two arms joinedtogether by a web 44. Between the upper ends of the arms of the lever 43lf have pivotally mounted a weight 45 which is held in position by meansof pins 46. Upon opposite sides of the arms of the lever 43 ueon eachface of weight 45, I have provider lugs 47 adapted by contact with thearms of the lever to limit the swinging of the weight 45, as shown inFig. 4. Lost motion connections are provided between the levers 39 and43 by the use of a pin 48 carried by the lever 43 and extending betweenpins or lugs 49 carried by the lever 39. In the position shown in 4, thelever 43 is standing at the limit of its motion towards the right insaid figure, being limited by the action of the pin 48 and the lugs 49carried by the lever 39, which in turn is at the limit of its motiontowards the right in said ligure. The arrangement is such that the lever43 is capable of moving an equal distance to the left beyond thevertical line, as shown in Fig. 4, in which suggested position the lever43 would be limited by the contact of the pin 4S with the other one ofthe two lugs 49 carried by the lever 39.

Between the levers 39 and 43, I have revolubly mounted a float arm 50carrying upon its lower end a float 51 of any suitable type. The collar52 by which the fioat arm 50 is revolubly mounted upon the stud 26 isprovided at one side with a lug 53 in which is fixedly mounted a pin 54which eX- tends into a circumferential slot 55 formed in the lever 43,as is best shown in Fig. 4. The play or lost motion thus providedbetween the lever 43 and the float arm 50 is substantially equal toone-half of the complete swing of the lever 43. It will thus be seenthat when the ioat arm 50 moves the lever 43 upwardly into verticalposition so as to cause the lever to pass the vertical positionsufliciently to move further in the same direction by gravity, the lever43 is permitted to swing to the limit of its motion in that directionindependently of the float arm 50 and the float 51, by reason of thelost motion between the pin 54 and the slot 55.

In Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings, the parts are shown in the position inwhich they stand when the casing 15 has been emptied. The pressure ofthe steam at the left of the cheek valve 19 in Fig. '1 holds the valveclosed. lVith the float 51 at its lowermost position, and with thelarger or primary weight 45 and the smaller or secondary weight 41 atthe limit of their motion toward the right inFig. 4, the steam valve 37'will be standing closed and the air valve Bwill be standing open so asto permit the escape of air from the casing 15.- The water ofcondensa-tion from the radiators is accordingly permitted to gather inthe casing 15, air in the casing- 15 being displaced through the ar pipe25 past the valve 3G. As the level of the water rises in the casing- 15,the float 51 will also rise, swinging towards the right in Fig. 4,serving to move the lever 43 towards the left in said ligure. W hen thewater in the casiugl 'reaches its upper most desired level, the lever 43will have reached its vertical positionas shown in Fig. 6, ready for'its free downward swing by gravity towards the left in Fig..4'. When thelever 43 hasl swung to a position very slightly at the left of thevertical plane through the axisof the shaft 2G, as is shown in l? 7, thepin 48 carried by the lever 43 will come into contact with the lug 49 ofthe lever 39 at the left of the lever 39 as shown in said Fig.' 7serving to move the leverI 39 towards the left in unison with the lever43. Vhen' in the continued movement of the levers toward theleft in Fig.7 the lever 39 reaches its vertical position, as is illustrated in Fig.8, the two levers will.v be in readiness for their free swingingmovement toward the left in that figure, both4 of said levers being,`thenl actuated by gravity independently of each other. When the twolevers have moved in unison by gravity in this fashion a short distance,the pin 32 carried by the shaft 29 will come into contact with the endof the notch 31 of the crank collar 30, serv-v ing to apply the momentumof. both of the weighted levers toward the left in. Fig. 9, which is thesame as toward the rightin Fig. 5, serving. to open the steamI 'valveagainst thepressure of the steam in the'pipeQB, and serving: at the sametime to closel the valve e6. By reason of the application of the inonientum of the two weighted levers to the valve by a` sharp, suddenblow, the valver 37 is opened byy avery much smaller weight or aggregateof weights, than could be done if the mass of the weights' alone wererelied upon. The arrangement ofthe parts is such that the opening ofIthe steam valve 37 and the closing of theair valve 36 are completed whenthe levers 39 and` 43 reach the limit of their movement toward the leftin Fig. 9, in which position the pin 54 is again in engagement with oneof the ends of the slot 55 of the lever 43.

As will be readily understood, upon the opening of the steam valve 37and the entrance of the steam into the casing 15, the water is permittedto escape from the casing 15 past the valve 19 through the pipe 18 intothe boiler. As the level of the water is lowered in the casing 15, thefloat arm 50 will, of course, swing downwardly towards the right in Fig.1, serving to carry the lever as illustrated in the drawings and asabove described, it will be understood that 1 do not desire to belimited to the precise details'of the construction shown, except as thesame is specifically claimed, inasmuch as it is evident that manychanges may. be made in the construction without departing from thespirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A-return trap comprising a closed casing including a valve housinglat one side of' said casing, inlet and outlet connections in the casingfor water of condensation, a fixed stud shaft projecting inwardly fromone side wall of the casing, and av revoluble shaft journaled at itsrespective ends in the free end of the stud and in the outer wall of thevalve housing, valves mounted inl the valve housing, a: collar rotatablymounted on the shaft, operating' connec tions between the collar andtheV valves,-a pin and slot lost-motion connection between the shaft andcollar, a weighted lever fixed to the shaft, a lever pivoted on the studand having a iioat at its free end, and lost motionl connectionsbetween. the float lever and the weighted lever whereby the raising orlowering of the float will swing the weightedl lever to one side or theother of vertical position.

2. A return trap comprising al closed casing including a valve housingat one side of said easing, inlet and outlet connections in the casingfor water of condensation, a fixed stud shaft projecting inwardly fromone side wall of the easing, and a revoluble shaft journaled at itsrespective ends in the free end of the stud and in the outer wall of thevalve housing, valves mounted in the valve housing, a collar rotatablymounted on the shaft, operating connections between the `collar and thevalves, a pin and slot lostL motion connection between the shaft andcollar, a weighted lever fixed to the shaft, a second weighted leverfreely pivoted on the stud, lost-motion connections between the twolevers, a third lever also pivoted on the stud and having a float at itsfree end, and lost-motion connections between the floatlever and thesecond weighted lever.

3. A return trap comprising a closed casing including a valve housing atone side of said casing, inlet and outlet connections in the casing forwater of condensation, a

fixed stud shaft projecting inwardly from one side wall of the casing,and a revolu ble shaft journaled at its respective ends in the free endof the stud and in the outer wall of the valve hoilsing, valves mountedin the v'alve housing, a collar rotatably mounted on the shaft,operating connections between the collar and the valves, a pin and slotlost-motion connection between the shaft and collar, a weighted leverfixed to the shaft comprising a pair of upstanding parallel arms and aweight pivotally suspended between the upperl ends of the arms, a leverpivoted on the stud and having a float at its free end, and lost motionconnections be` tween the float lever and the weighted lever whereby theraising or lowering` of the float will swing the weighted lever to oneside or the other of a vertical position.

4. A return trap comprising a closed casing including a valve housing atone side of said casing, inlet and outlet connections in the casing forwater of condensation, a fixed stud shaft projecting inwardly from oneside wall of the casing, and a revolublc shaft journaled at itsrespective ends in the free end of the stud and in the outer wall of thevalve housing, valves mounted in the valve housing, a collar rotatablymounted on the shaft, operating connections between the collar and thevalves, a pin and slot lostemotion connection between 'the shaft andcollar, a weighted lever fixed to the shaft comprising a pair ofupstanding parallel arms and a weight pivotally suspended between theupper ends of the arms, a second weighted lever freely pivoted on thestud, this lever also comprising a pair of upstanding arms and a weightpivotally sus* pended between the arms, lost-motion connections betweenthe two levers, a third lever also pivoted on the stud and having afloat at its free end, and lost-motion connections between theHeat-lever and the second weighted lever.

5. A return trap comprising a closed casing, an outlet connection to aboiler, a oneway valve therein, a valve housing project` ing outwardlyfrom one side of the casing and in open communication with the casing, ahorizontal shaft mounted in this housing and projecting into the casing,an air outlet valve and a steam inlet valve each positionedsubstantially radially of the shaft in the valve housing, a pivot-pinmounted eccentrically on the shaft, a valve rod for each of the valvespivoted on this pin whereby a rocking movement of the shaft will openone valve and close the other, a weighted lever on the shaft within thecasing adapted .11

to operate the valves when swung to one side or t-he other of a verticalposition, a secon d weighted lever and a float each pivoted within thecasing on the same axis as the shaft, and lost-motion connectionsbetween the fioat and the second mentioned lever, and between the twolevers.

6. A return trap comprising a closed casing, an outlet connection to aboiler, a oneway valve therein, a valve housing projecting outwardlyfrom one side of the casing and in open communication with the casing, ahorizontal shaft mounted in this housing and projecting into the casing,an air outlet valve and a steam inlet valve each positionedsubstantially radially ofthe shaft in the valve housing, a pivot-pinmounted eccentrically on the shaft, a valve rod for each of the valvespivoted on this pin whereby a rocking movement of the shaft will openone valve and close the other, a weighted lever on the shaft within thecasing adapted to operate the valves when swung to one side or the otherof a vertical position, a float pivoted wit-l in the casiiig on the sameaxis as the shaft, and lost motion operating connections between thefloat and the weighted lever.

7. A return trap comprising a closed casing, an outlet connection to aboiler, a one` way valve therein, a valve housing at one side of thecasing, a horizontal shaft mounted in this housing and projecting intothe casing, an air outlet valve and a steam inlet valve each positionedsubstantially radially of the shaft in the valve housing, a collarpivoted on the shaft, a lost-motion connection between the shaft andcollar, a valve rod for each of the valves pivoted at one end in thecollar eccentrically of the shaft whereby a rocking movement of theshaft will open one valve and close the other, a weighted lever on theshaft adapted to operate the valves when swung to one side or the otherof a vertical position, a float pivoted within the casing, and lostmotion operating connections between the float and the weighted lever.

FALTEN EIGE.

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